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Mr. Speaker,
The result of the December 17th election which saw the One Bermuda Alliance elevated
to the Government benches is one which we respect, accept, and understand. We
congratulate the new government and wish them well in leading our country over the
next five years.
Mr. Speaker
The people have spoken, and in response to their will, there has been a shift within the
Bermuda Progressive Labour Party.
This shift does not represent the repudiation of our past, our philosophy, or the men
and women who over the past 50 years have sacrificed to give our people a voice.
Instead, this shift within the Progressive Labour Party represents the melding of our longstanding commitment to social and economic justice with a new mindset and a new
approach towards expanding opportunity.
The Progressive Labour Party will pursue a BALANCED approach, eschewing the
radicalism of far left policies or the extremist policies of the right wing. Neither the
nanny state, nor a state where profits take precedence over people is desirable, and we
shall pursue and promote policies that expand opportunity for all, and renew our
societys commitment to fairness and justice.
In the words of His Imperial Majesty Haile Sellassie I, What we seek is a new and adifferent way of life. We search for a way of life in which all men will be treated as
responsible human beings, able to participate fully in the political affairs of their
government; a way of life in which ignorance and poverty, if not abolished, are at
least the exception and are actively combated
Mr. Speaker,
The PLP believes that unemployment is the greatest crisis facing our country and that
Bermudians must be put to work swiftly. To get Bermudians working again we propose:
Full implementation of our Infrastructure Strategy Plan, identifyingimprovements or repairs to our infrastructure that will not only enhance our
overall quality of life, but create business opportunities for construction
companies and jobs for Bermudian construction workers.
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The development of a Blue Economy, inclusive of Sea-Bed mining, Aquaculture,and Off-Shore Fishing. This will lead to the creation of new job opportunities, the
diversification of our economy, and the creation of new revenue streams. The
Blue Economy concept was brought to my attention by former Premier Hon. Dr.
David Saul as a tremendous untapped resource for Bermuda that could assist
greatly in not only creating new jobs and opportunities but also as a means of
substantially reducing our debt.
Creation of a Sea-Side Facility for Offshore Fishing Passage of The Incentives for Job Makers Act, creating a clear and direct set of
benefits for new businesses to establish in Bermuda, bringing with them new jobs
and new opportunities
Designation of a segment of Bermuda Land Development Corporation land as anEconomic FREE Zone. Targeting specific types of businesses such as asset
management companies with incentives such as payroll and other tax
exemptions. Payroll tax exemptions for the retail, hospitality and restaurant sectors be
extended, providing an incentive to keep Bermudians employed.
Full implementation of The One Stop Career Centre and The Career PathwaysProgramme as key components to getting our people working again.
Mr. Speaker,
We are pleased that the government appears to share our commitment to better
aligning education: technical and academic, to the real world economy. One of the
major vehicles that the PLP intended to utilize to achieve what the Throne Speechreferred to as lifelong learning in Bermuda, was the Job Corps Programme which was
to be situated in a campus environment at the former Harmony Hall site in Paget. While
this program was conspicuously absent from the Throne Speech, we hope that the
government will quickly move forward with this exciting initiative, designed to get our
young people into the economic mainstream.
Mr. Speaker,
The PLP believes in a workforce development model that does not nostalgically seek to
re-establish an outdated model from the 1970s and 80s; but rather one that isreflective of Bermuda today and the Bermuda economy of tomorrow.
This must be a model that acknowledges that technical education in the 21st Century
requires of its students the same commitment to academic rigor as it would if one were
studying to be an accountant or lawyer.
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Mr. Speaker,
For Bermuda to maintain its competiveness in the hyper-competitive global economy
we must have a workforce that is educated at a higher level than the OECD median of
academic abilities in literacy, math and science. Nothing illustrates this more than the
fact that a Toyota Prius mechanic must possess at least a grade 16 level in terms ofliteracy and numeracy in order to comprehend and utilize the cars repair manual.
Technical education will continue to be transformed over the next decade as more
processes and skills are computerized and/or performed by computers, sensors and
robots. Information technology, even as we speak, is becoming the norm and not the
exception in so many products and systems: appliances and gadgets of all sorts, relaying
real time information on their operations to users and operators.
Mr. Speaker,
The ability to work in fields that utilize this technology will require the ability to design,
use and programme these systems. These skill sets can only be obtained by the
acquisition of a strong and rigorous academic background. No longer should an
academic education be considered surplus to the needs of Bermudians in the work
place.
Mr. Speaker, we also must highlight, that the CISCO Academy, which was also
implemented by the former Government and which is situated at the Bermuda College,
must be actively and purposefully promoted to our young people as a vehicle to achieve
the technical jobs of the future. The CISCO designation represents a global passport of
opportunity, representing technical excellence for our young people.
Mr. Speaker
"The ultimate resource of a nation is its people. Unless this resource is employed for
the benefit of the nation, unless the latent good which it represents is exploited to the
maximum for the common good the nation will languish, poor in spirit, lacking in
achievement"
In all things we must ensure that Bermudians come first in our country of birth. Our
islands economic success will not be lasting or sustainable, if our people are reduced tomere spectators in our economy. All of us who are willing must have an opportunity to
compete and participate in our economy.
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Mr. Speaker,
The OBA has waxed eloquently and vociferously about their commitment to openness,
transparency and accountability. They have demonstrated these ideals impeccably
when it comes to providing comfort and job security to non- Bermudian work permit
holders. Yet, when it comes to jobs for our people, they have been remarkably andshockingly lacking in details, specifics or solutions. In fact, the Government has given
some sectors of our community the distinct impression that they are more interested in
securing and increasing the number of foreign workers, than in creating jobs for the
people already living here.
The PLP encourages the government to take immediate action on enhancing thework permit framework and making changes to immigration laws to provide
Bermudians with the assurance that they will not be treated like second class citizens
in our country of birth.
Mr. Speaker,
"It is both the duty and responsibility of the world's fortunate few to help fulfill the
legitimate aspirations of the unfortunate many"
Many Bermudians, as a result of losing their jobs, now face losing their homes or being
sent to prison for debt. While there will always be shiftless and irresponsible people
unwilling to pay their way, today, many people are simply unable to make ends meet
and their debts are rising. Our current system damages the family unit, makes criminals
of the poor, and creates more harm than good. We call on Government to: Work with our local banking institutions on a solution to keep hard working
Bermudians in their homes.
Make legislative changes to allow new and more positive ways for debts to beresolved
Improve regulation of the debt collection process.We note with interest the Governments proposal to introduce mandatory parenting
and budgeting classes to persons on financial assistance. At first glance this is a noble
sentiment, but it evolves from a flawed premise. Not everyone on financial assistance is
there because of personal irresponsibility, and not everyone on financial assistance can
be tarred with the bad parent brush. Many Bermudians, for the first time in their lives
have been forced to turn to the Government for help until they find a job. Until the
recession struck, these Bermudians worked hard, paid their way, obeyed the law and
took care of their responsibilities.
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Were it not for the economic downturn, many of them would have never stepped foot
into the office of Financial Assistance.
Bermudians are a proud people, and already, many who could legitimately benefit from
the services provided by Financial Assistance are reluctant to come forward. We see no
benefit in stigmatizing people on Financial Assistance, especially not in this economicclimate.
Mr. Speaker,
While many people are happy to just have a job, there are others who dream of starting
their own business and moving from being just consumers to being producers. Bermuda
has traditionally provided a daunting economic environment for entrepreneurs, where
often, it was easier to get a loan for a new boat than to obtain start-up capital for a new
business. Together, we must identify ways to expand access to capital, in particular
equity capital, encourage the greater use of small business by Government, and
continue to identify mechanisms such as the EEZ to create a clear and attainable path to
business ownership. The creation of direct links to the Caribbean and Latin America also
presents a great opportunity for Bermudians to expand our entrepreneurial
opportunities.
Mr. Speaker,
We must commit to examining our financial system and determine if the system that
has been in place for centuries is still the right fit for our people. This must include a
mature and frank discussion on Tax reform and Monetary policy, and Monetary reform.
We encourage the Government to push for more foreign investment and competition in
Bermudas marketplace, particularly in the areas of Banking and Legal Services.
Deregulation in the Banking Sector could provide more jobs, lure international names,
and promote more competition locally which would benefit consumers. Legal Services
drive companies to jurisdictions. If Bermuda had local branches of international law
firms, it would not only provide employment, but would also provide more peopleselling and marketing Bermuda to their clients around the world. If we are to build our
business, we need more people selling Bermuda.
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Mr. Speaker
"Education of the youth is the surest guarantee for a better life."
It forms the essential foundation for ensuring that future generations of Bermudians will
be empowered to take possession of key roles in our society. Yet an education that onlyallows a man to acquire the skills to earn a job is insufficient for our needs. Education
must also elevate the intellect and engender a conscientious passion for strengthening,
improving, and making a meaningful contribution to our society.
Mr. Speaker,
For years we have fought to change the curriculum, making it more suitable for 21st
century Bermuda. Now that we have established a world class curriculum equal to that
taught in our islands private school system, we must change the culture in the
education system itself. We must establish greater autonomy, greater accountability
and greater levels of achievement. As a result of experience and humble reflection, and
after 14 years of being Government, our approach towards education has shifted.
Mr. Speaker,
Going forward, it is the considered position of the PLP that we must:
Dismantle the Middle School system, as it is an inherent part of the institutionalculture that is damaging our social fabric. The mega school concept is a proven
global failure and pretending that Bermuda has not been subjected to the same
social and academic challenges as other jurisdictions is destructive. Studies haveshown that between the ages of 10 and 14, young people begin to develop group
consciousness. This is the same age our young people enter a middle-school
environment, the location of which depends on the community where the young
person resides. In our current format, gang culture has flourished. Studies
conducted on schools in Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Baltimore where the
middle school concept was eliminated each saw a decline in behavioral problems
and a rise in academic achievement.
Restore the education system to one with seven years of primary school, and fiveyears of high school, as well as the de-centralization from the mega school
concept. We further posit that the restoration of island wide competition inacademics and athletics will create a stronger and more vibrant community for
our young people. While we may give due consideration of the cost associated
with such reform, we must also consider the cost and risk associated by not doing
it. The consequences of a lack of political will, is grave indeed.
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Providing Principals with greater autonomy to run their schools and be assessedby the only meaningful result, student achievement.
The creation of School Councils to strengthen and enhance parental andcommunity involvement in our schools
Supporting and expanding credible alternative educational options, such as homeschools to meet the individual needs of students
Lowering the school entrance age to 4 years old to enable our young people toget a head start on their schooling.
Supporting the professional development of teachers and their licensingrequirements with the creation of an education faculty at the Bermuda College
Developing The Bermuda College into a four year University, and the introductionof programs that allows for the acquisition of professional designations relevant
to filling the needs of our economy. The Bermuda Insurance Institute is an
excellent example in this regard.
Mr. Speaker,
We note with interest governments desire to extend the school day. Have they
discussed the implementation of this change with the Bermuda Union of Teachers? Will
this require the alteration of the existing collective bargaining agreement? Will it require
the hiring of more teachers? What impact will this have on existing, successful
afterschool programs? We hope that these questions will be answered by the
government in the near future.
Mr. Speaker,
Gun violence and gang conflict has touched many of our families and many of our
communities. While the Bermuda Police Service has done a good job in capturing and
attaining the conviction of many of the islands violent perpetrators, the fear that
someone we love will be shot, or that a gun will be used to commit a crime against us or
our families, is a tragic reality in 21st
century Bermuda. To date, we have been hampered
by a Government House that has not moved as swiftly as we would have liked, as sternly
as we would have liked, and as efficiently as we would have liked, in stemming the tide
of gang violence.
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Mr. Speaker,
At this time it is important that we acknowledge the work of our Commissioner of Police
Mr. Michael DeSilva. Under his leadership we have seen remarkable strides in the level
of policing in Bermuda. The Commissioner and his team have performed admirably. Let
us be reminded that the first duty of Government is to ensure law and order, and theprotection of the people and their property from force, coercion, and fraud. As such,
The PLP proposes:
The placing of operational control of the Bermuda Police Service in the hands ofthe duly elected Government of Bermuda. We believe that Bermudians are best
suited to direct our war on crime
The development of a National Crime Reduction Plan The introduction of a sustained police presence in areas known for drug
trafficking, including sporting community fields and street corners Require inmates on work release to contribute a portion of their earnings to a
Victim Compensation Fund.
The creation of a sexual predator and pedophile registry. Expansion of the role of the Bermuda Regiment in marine interdiction
Judicial Reform should include:
A full and frank discussion on the decriminalization of marijuana with a viewtowards holding a referendum on the subject.
Tougher legislation for the collection of outstanding child support payments Establish a Small Claims Court The creation of a Mental Health Court Introduction of a Judicial Complaints Authority The Creation of Re-Entry Courts and Review Courts to ensure completion of
mandated programmes and minimize recidivism respectively.
Development of a strategy to contain the rising costs of Legal AidMr. Speaker,
For all of their criticism of the PLPs handling of tourism, one would have expected thatwe would have heard a barrage of fresh ideas, new initiatives, and innovative programs.
What we heard instead, was a cut and paste of what the PLP had already placed in the
pipeline. Tourism is essential to Bermudas economy and people. It requires all hands on
deck, and it also requires us to think and do things differently. My mantra is FREE UP,
which is indicative of the requirement to be responsive to what the consumer wants,
and not what we think they need.
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To enhance Tourism and its product, we support the following initiatives and programs:
The time has come for a referendum on gaming in Bermuda. The politicians,international investors, the business community, and the hospitality industry
have all had their say and now it is time for the people of Bermuda to have their
say and determine whether gaming is right for Bermuda. The Hotel Business Plan must be fully implanted and used to target and attract
new hotel investment
Funding that already exists within the Ministries entertainment budget should beused to hire an Entertainment Director to work with the Musician Union to
revitalize entertainment in Bermuda.
All future foreign contracts relating to tourism should be tied to a Bermudianentity to create opportunity and jobs for Bermudians.
Succession planning and the opportunity to shadow existing non-Bermudian jobholders must be established to ensure that our people play a more active role inthe promotion of our island. We believe that educated, qualified Bermudians are
best suited to market and promote our island to the world.
The development of new markets, in particular, the Latin American andCaribbean markets
Mr. Speaker,
We have noticed that the municipalities were not mentioned much in the Throne
Speech, yet the OBA stressed the municipalities during their election campaign whilst on
the doorsteps. We encourage the Government to fulfill their promises to:
Reopen the St. George's Golf Course Reopen the St. George's Police Station in a fully working capacity, inclusive of
proper staffing
Work closely with the Corporation of St George to protect its historical qualities,and further implement the Town Heritage Plan, and fulfill the pledge to commit
sufficient funds to market St George as a World Heritage Site.
Ensure a close working relationship with the Corporation of St George to ensureits viability as a municipality.
Redevelop the St George waterfront and create a premier yachting destination.The Corporation of Hamilton (CoH) was not mentioned at all in the Throne Speech;
which begs the question; does the Government have plans for this municipality? The
prosperity of the City of Hamilton should be a priority to the Government. Government
should work closely with the Corporation of Hamilton to ensure its success
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The Corporation of Hamilton currently has preliminary plans to develop the Hamilton
Harbour waterfront. The Corporation of Hamilton should be assisted in their efforts to
create alternative revenue streams whilst enhancing our tourism product.
Mr. Speaker,
We must come to terms with how we will be able to power our country in the future.
We support:
Full implementation of the Energy White Paper Facilitating the introduction of natural gas into Bermuda to drive down electricity
costs
In addition, we will give full support towards the implementation of our
telecommunications reform that was initiated under the PLP. We are confident that
such reform will greatly enhance our jurisdiction as a business hub, provide betterproducts and services to the residents of Bermuda, and lower prices through
competition. In fact Mr. Speaker, with these benefits and improvements, we will
encourage the Government to move to permit the establishment of online-gaming
businesses that can tap into a very lucrative global industry.
Mr. Speaker
"There is nothing as precious to man as a sound mind in a sound body and it is
essential that the physical well being of our people merits as much attention as its
spiritual welfare"
The PLP is committed to:
Continue reforming our healthcare system to make it affordable and accessible toALL Bermudians
Encouraging the use of preventative and alternative medicine Introducing Home Health Care as a standard hospital benefit Consolidating public health insurance products like GEHI and HIP to enhance
efficiency and improve administration
Providing improved facilities to meet the needs of those currently being assistedat Orange Valley and the Opportunity Workshop
Continuing to reduce the operating costs of the hospital
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Mr. Speaker,
A clean, efficient and safe transportation system is essential to the success of Bermuda.
The PLP supports:
Encouraging minibus owners to provide integrated shuttle services with publictransportation Investigating the options for eco-friendly buses and government vehicles Redeveloping the L.F. Wade International Airport Working to expand airlift with a focus on Europe, The Caribbean, The GCC Region,
The Azores and Latin America
The acquisition of additional ferries into the fleet The development of a cruise ship port in the town of St. Georges in conjunction
with major cruise lines
Mr. Speaker,
"The forests, the mountains, and the plains constitute wealth."
The need to balance protecting the environment with the economic and social
development of our people is challenging, but necessary to preserve Bermuda for
Bermudians yet unborn.
The PLP supports:
The Introduction of a National Recycling Programme The implementation of the Sargasso Sea Initiative The Launch of National Tree Planting Campaign Creation of new, modernized policies on Dog ownership, breeding, licensing and
training
Development of A Feral Cat and Chicken Strategy Revision of the limit of the Permitted Development Application (One-Day Permit)
to allow for larger or necessary structures to be included along with the ability of
the Director of Planning to determine if a project outside this remit can be
included.
Improving the application form process and requiring more information to bedocumented up front, to allow for more consistent initial screening ofapplications in order to catch deficiencies early.
Revising the Architect Act to enforce architectural standards, improve the qualityof planning submissions, and reduce application processing time
Allowing Applicants/Agents to make presentations to the DAB where the Plannerand Agent disagree on the application
Streamlining the Objection Process
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Mr. Speaker
Community organizations have, over the years, by necessity filled the gaps in the
system. To encourage their efforts and allow more of their funds to be spent on
addressing the islands pressing social issues; we encourage the government to:
Explore the creation of a National Lottery for the specific purpose of revitalizingour community clubs as safe, positive, thriving, parts of the communities in which
they operate. In return for this support, community clubs would be required to
abide by strict measures for compliance including the enforcement and reporting
of illegal or anti-social behavior on their premises. If we want community clubs to
be for the community, we cannot allow them to be a place where parents do not
want to send their children.
Allow community organizations and the parish councils to use vacant governmentproperties or to assume responsibility for derelict government properties for
nominal rents Move forward with our proposed private-public initiative that would have seen
members of the business community assist in renovating at least 7 Workmans
clubs with an investment of approximately $30m. This would not only provide
work for potentially hundreds of Bermudians, but would also revitalize and
improve the condition of the participating clubs.
Mr. Speaker,
The government has announced that it is eliminating the land license requirement for
the purchase of additional dwelling for married couples with a non-Bermudian spouse.It is important to note that restrictions on the acquisition of land by non-Bermudians
has been a part of our legal framework for centuries and has long been accepted as
necessary to protect the long term Bermudian interest in property.
Since the government has chosen to eliminate this restriction we look forward to seeing
what measures they will establish to prevent the potential loss of land by illegal means
such as fronting.
Mr. Speaker
Our people are disinterested in politicians opposing their government just for the sake
of scoring political brownie points. Our people are disinterested in game playing,
manipulation and deceit. To that end, it is my firm commitment to fervently support
the government in the steps they take to employ Bermudians, expand opportunities for
Bermudians and elevate the conditions of Bermudians. Where our knowledge,
experience and expertise can strengthen or improve government proposals we will
gladly and freely offer that knowledge, experience and expertise. But in working with
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the government, we shall also strive to ensure that Bermudians do not get left behind in
a blind, unbridled and unrestrained pursuit of profit. In working with the government
we shall also ensure that the issues facing our islands most vulnerable members; our
seniors, our youth are not forgotten.
Mr. Speaker,
In reading the One Bermuda Alliances Throne Speech there is much that we will be able
to support and help move forward for the benefit of Bermudians. Ideas such as the
Elimination of Conscription, the implementation of Operation Cease Fire, The formation
of an Economic Development Committee, Expansion of the Career Pathways
Programme, Repeal of the Park Hyatt Act 2008, Shared Parenting Legislation, Expansion
of Early Childhood Screenings, Implementation of the Hopkins Report on Education and
others are ideas that were born within the Progressive Labour Party, brought to the civil
service, and crafted into proposed policy and legislative changes for the benefit of all
Bermudians. These initiatives, properly executed, would provide a sound and balancedapproach to addressing the challenges facing our people, and we will work with the OBA
to make them a reality. While it would be tempting to characterize the Governments
Throne Speech as a Cut and Paste document or as an example of political plagiarism,
we prefer to believe that the greatest political victory does not occur at the polls, but in
altering the hearts and minds of your political opponents for the better. To that end,
we will not oppose for the sake of opposing, but instead offer meaningful, balanced and
constructive solutions to strengthen these proposals.
Mr. Speaker
In presenting our Reply to the Throne Speech, we have attempted to break away from
the traditional role of armchair critic and offer our people an alternative vision for the
direction of our country. Some may ask why we did not implement these ideas and
bring forward these proposals while we were in government? To them I say, with new
leadership comes a new direction, a new purpose, and a new way of doing things.
His Imperial Majesty once said, A house built on granite and strong foundations, not
even the onslaught of pouring rain, gushing torrents and strong winds will be able to
pull down.
There are those who have hailed the political defeat of the PLP, saying that like the UBP,
we will soon be consigned to the dust bin of history. Where we differ from that late,
unlamented champion of oligarchic rule, is that we are not bound together by greed,
lust for power, and opposition to progress. Where their foundation was one of sand, a
foundation built on protecting the privileged and the few, we stand on a foundation
built on expanding opportunity for all.
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We stand on a foundation bound together by the spirits of 7 men sitting in garage 50
years ago, seeking a way for all Bermudians to have a voice, a chance, and a role in the
country of our birth.
We are bound together by the memory of Walter Robinson, the man who helped shape
our islands constitution.
We are bound together and inspired by the example of Dame Lois Browne Evans; first in
law, first in leadership, and first in championing the rights of the people.
We are bound together and inspired by the legacy of L. Frederick Wade, our political
Moses, who led us through the political wilderness but was unable to complete the
journey to government with us.
We are bound together and inspired by the vision of Dame Jennifer Smith, who brought
One Man, One Vote of Equal Value to our people.
We are bound together by the idea of William Alexander Scott, that Bermuda should be
a place where the haves continue to have and the have nots, have more.
We are bound together by the work of Dr Ewart F. Brown who brought free and fair
municipal elections to Bermuda.
We are bound together by the legacy of Paula Cox who called upon each of us to Stand
Strong for Bermudians
Now, the generation that our parents sacrificed to feed, clothe and educate must step
up and contribute in the shaping of our islands destiny. Instructed and mentored by
our elders, respectful and knowledgeable of our history, our heritage, and of those who
came before us, we owe our country so very much. Let us give those who came before
us the confidence that our islands fate is in good hands. Let us give those who come
behind us hope that tomorrow will be filled with greater opportunity, success and
prosperity than we have today.
Thank you Mr. Speaker